Drive-In Movie Essentials
While poodle skirts and baby bangs may have reached their peak by the end of the 1950s, drive-in movie theatres are a treasured pastime from the decade that still manages to bring the retro vibes all the way to 2020.
This summer in particular, drive-in movies are a great option for an outdoor evening that follows social distance guidelines. Being a seasoned drive-in-movie-goer myself, I can attest that the more prepared you are, the better the experience is on the night of. That’s why I’m sharing a crash course on all the essentials you need to enjoy a movie under the stars.
Step 1: The Car Situation.
To be able to enjoy a drive-in movie, you have to … well … drive there. You can enjoy a movie from any car, but the best option is to bring a car that has a trunk that you can sit in: think pick-up trucks, SUVs, minivans, etc. If you don’t have access to a car with a sit-in-able trunk, no big deal, you can sit in your driver/passenger seat, or bring your own folding chairs.
Now this next part is paramount: bring alllllll the blankets and pillows. Okay, maybe not all of them, because you, the human, need to fit in there with the pillows and blankets, but generally, bring a good few pillows and blankets to make yourself oh-so comfy cozy when you settle in for the movie.
Photo: Pinterest
Step 2: The Food Situation.
Arguably, this is the most important part. What’s a movie without movie snacks, right? Depending on the drive-in theatre that you go to, they may have a snack bar, but it’s also likely to be overpriced, as most movie theatre snack bars are, so I suggest buying your favorite movie snacks ahead of time. Might I suggest for popcorn, try the Smartfood Movie Theatre Butter popcorn- it tastes like the real thing! For a sweet treat, I usually like to Parent Trap it and bring oreos and a jar of peanut butter for dipping. Be warned: this is highly addictive. Last but not least, you gotta wash it all down with something, so don’t forget to bring a big water bottle or two, and a cooler to keep it all nice and chilly. Bonus: if you want a refreshing snack, throw some fruit in the cooler, or some veggies and hummus.
Step 3: The Intermission Situation.
Most drive-ins have a double feature, so there will likely be a short intermission. Bring a frisbee or football to toss around in between films, or bring a polaroid camera and take some cute pics for keepsakes. Also, bathroom lines get long very quickly at intermission, so if you gotta go, I recommend booking it as soon as the credits from the first film start.
Other Essentials:
-Jumper Cables: Juuuuust in case your car battery dies. It’s never happened to me, but I’ve seen it happen to others before. Luckily though, if you don’t own jumper cables, most drive-ins will have them handy.
-Bug spray: Bring it, put it on, reapply it.
-A sweater/ sweatshirt: Bring or dress in layers in case the night cools off.
Overall, just have fun with it & enjoy the experience!